Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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Expectations. Whether you were one of the 5,934 freshmen to K-State for the first time, or a returning student set on having the time of your life, Kansas State University became your home...at least for the academic year. An increasing number of students set the enrollment at 20,110 and marked the first time that the student population broke the 20,000 mark. Since the late ' 60s, K-State alumni across the nation have been waiting for the day when K-State would have more than 20,000 students, President Jon Wefald said. Part of the reason the alumni have been hoping this for years is because virtually all other Big Eight institutions since the ' 70s have been over 20,000. One of the most unexpected events was the turnaround football program. In spite of a Sports Illustrated article which cited a 93-year losing tradition for the football new Coach Bill Synder instilled a winning attitude in his team. The inspired took to the field in new uniforms and sported a new Wildcat logo. A crowd of 28,275 — a number unmatched in over 19 years — showed up to support the team at the home opener, dispelling the expectation of low student confidence in the team. For the first time ever, enrollment broke the 20,000 mark. ♦ Trying to get into Wildcat spirit before the first home game, Sean Grimes, freshman undecided, has his face painted purple and white by Andy sophomore in art (Photo by Christopher T.Assaf) opening 3

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♦ Blowing up their balloon, Glenda Lamme, shown in the mouth of the balloon, and her husband Gary Lamme, Topeka, not shown, inflate their hot air balloon Gee Whiz near the KSU Stadium just the first home game. (Photo by Gary Lytle)

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The Wildcats entered their third home game not knowing it would end with the crowd bringing down both goal posts to celebrate the end of their 30-game winless streak. Emotions flew high and fans couldn ' t stop talking, like one exclaiming to his young son, Do you know the last time K-State won? I don ' t even think you were born, yet. The team proved what Snyder had known all along — they were able to win. Promotion and publicity for the team was at an all time high but the 2,814 student season football tickets sold marked a significant decline. Football tickets were priced at $42 for six games while basketball season tickets were $70. Season tickets weren ' t alone in price inflation. Tuition and fees increased by $50, a 6.8 percent increase over last year; residence hall room and board rose $180 per year. Students not only dealt with increased fees but increased enrollment as well. Some packed up their belongings and came to State expecting to find a place to live with little difficulty. What they found was housing so limited that lounges in residence halls were used as make-shift rooms and community members were asked to open their homes to students. After end of winless streak, football fans exclaims to his young son, Do you know the last time K-State won? I don ' t even think you were born, yet. ♦ Jim Linot, senior in physical education and grounds keeping worker, cuts seed pods from a flowerbed on the east side of the Union. (Photo by Christopher T.Assaf) ♦ Mathew Mayer, senior in interior architecture, plays catch with a flying disc in front of an ivy wall at the Union before the Opus 3 band (Photo by Christopher T. Assaf) ♦ Kris Duggan, sophomore in pre-veterinary takes a break from the festivities held before K-State ' s home football opener against Northern Iowa. (Photo by Christopher T. Assaf)